Tuesday, January 29, 2008

"More than 60 years ago, George Dayton, Target's founder, began donating 5% of the pretax profits from his legendary department stores. While Dayton's original chain is a retailer of the past, Target carries on the philanthropic torch.

Today that 5% donation has mushroomed into more than $3 million in giving each week. Laysha Ward, Target's VP of community relations (pictured in photo), and her team are charged with the task of doling out the funds. In 2007 that included donations of 8.48 million pounds of food (which equates to 6.5 million meals), 1,700 free days at 30 museums and theaters, and some thousands of dollars a week to school programs across America."